04 September 2015

The Los Angeles Lakers just gave the green signal that will allow Filipino-American NBA player Jordan Clarkson play for the Philippine national men’s basketball team in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship later this month.

However there's one catch: the Lakers want Clarkson back before 28 September 2015, or right before their annual media day and training camp. That is right at the middle of the Olympic qualifier, meaning Gilas Pilipinas will only have him at the start of the tournament.

"Per the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the Player’s Association, as long as national team play does not interfere with team requirements and there are no injury issues, it is up to the players whether or not to play," Lakers Public Relations Vice President John Black told CBS Los Angeles.

"Our players must be in Los Angeles on 28 September, so as long as he would be back by then, we would have no objection to Jordan playing in the event up until that date."

Gilas Pilipinas will face Palestine on 23 September, Hong Kong on 24 September and Kuwait on 25 September during the preliminary round. They will also have games until the 29th for the second round.

Given the condition set by the Lakers, Clarkson won’t be around anymore when Gilas Pilipinas needs him the most, particularly when the FIBA Asia knockout round starts on 1 October.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas officials have already flown to LA to talk to Lakers management about Clarkson’s stint with Gilas. They will also meet with his dad who earlier released a statement explaining why his son shouldn’t suit up for the national team.

Before going back to LA, Clarkson was with Gilas Pilipinas in its first games in the William Jones Cup in Taiwan but he was behind the bench cheering the team.

Clarkson, who is still seeking approval from FIBA, was included in the Gilas Pilipinas’ 24-man lineup submitted for the FIBA Asia tournament.

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PBA Advisory

2017 Commissioner's Cup Format

The tournament allows teams to hire foreign players or imports with a height limit of 6-foot-10.

The top 2 teams will earn twice-to-beat edges over Nos. 7 and 8 while the No. 3 against No. 6 and No. 4 versus No. 5 pairing will be a best-of-three affair in the quarterfinals.

The semifinal stage will have a pair of best-of-five matches and the finals will be a race-to-four affair.

Gilas Pilipinas

Manila will host one of the three tournaments in the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The Philippine national men’s basketball team will try to pull off massive upsets against France, New Zealand, Canada, Turkey and Senegal in the competition slated on July 5 to July 10 at Mall of Asia Arena.

A total of 18 teams will participate in the three-nation event whose champions will book tickets to the 2016 Rio Olympics.